Metal packaging insert for a collapsible, flexible, plastic tube

ABSTRACT

A malleable metal insert installed longitudinally in the container cavity of a squeezable, flexible, collapsible wall, plastic container used to package and dispense viscous material. The insert is made from malleable, bendable metal such as copper, aluminum or steel and can be protectively coated to avoid chemical reaction with the packaged product. The insert is installed before or after the tube and contents are sealed. When the tube is squeezed and folded/rolled, the malleable insert bends and conforms to the folded/rolled tube holding the folded tube in position permitting the tube to be either partially or fully emptied.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims all rights and priorities under provisionalpatent application No. 60/772,935 filed Feb. 13, 2006

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a malleable metal insert for a plastic typeflexible, squeezable tube. This device permits efficient emptying of thetube and negates the tendency of this type tube to return to theoriginal shape when external pressure is removed.

Many types of viscous materials, such as gels, liquids, pastes, and thelike, are sold in flexible, plastic tubes having one sealed end and anarrow nozzle end with a closure means, such as a valve or cap. Theearly collapsible wall dispensers were metal tubes, constructedprimarily of lead type material. This type tube emptied easily as thetube was squeezed and rolled, retaining any altered shape which made itvery convenient for the ultimate user. Metal gave way to plastic whichhas proved versatile and economical. Presently the large majority ofthese flexible tubes are made from either extruded or laminated plastic.The viscous product to be dispensed from the flexible tube is insertedin the end which has not been sealed. The filled tube is sealed and theultimate user dispenses the contents by squeezing and folding the tubeforcing the material out the dispensing end of the tube. It is wellknown that such tubes do not efficiently expel the contents. The plastictube has an inherent tendency to return to the original shape onceexternal pressure is released. To empty the entire contents at one timerequires a constant pressure using a two handed grip. If pressure isreleased, you have to start over. This same tendency makes repeated usesuch as dispensing tooth paste, creams and like materials particularlydifficult, requiring a new start with each subsequent use. Numerousattempts have been made to solve the problem of emptying the tube. Knownmeans include external devices of slide tools, squeezing tools, rollersand methods of keeping the contents at the dispensing end of the tube byhanging the tube from the non-cap end or standing the tube on the capend. Various degrees of success have been obtained but there stillexists the need of an economical means for expelling/dispensing viscousmaterial packaged in modern flexible, plastic tubes.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention utilizes a one piece malleable, metal insert installedinside a collapsible wall plastic tube container along with the tubecontents. As the tube is squeezed and folded/rolled, the metal bends toconform to the tube and holds the tube in the folded/rolled position.The metal insert enhances the plastic tube with the desirable emptyingand shape holding characteristics of a metal tube.

The objective of this invention is a means that:

a—improves the dispensing of viscous material from a collapsible wall,plastic tube container.b—incorporates the characteristics of a metal collapsible tubecontainer/dispenser into the versatile and economical plastic tubecontainer/dispenser.c—provides a user friendly tube that is convenient, easy to use,economical and compatible with present plastic tube designs andmanufacturing processes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 represents a plastic tube.

FIG. 2 represents a −U-shaped bent wire insert with the legs spreadoutward at an angle.

FIG. 3 represents a −V-shaped bent wire insert.

FIG. 4 represents a flat sheet metal insert with slotted openings.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

1—tube body

2—dispensing end

3—sealed end

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a collapsible wall plastic tube representingthe tube relating to this invention. This tube is made from extrudedplastic or laminated plastic and shipped to the manufacture/distributorwith the dispensing end (2) either a capped or sealed dispensing spout.The closure end (3) is open permitting the tube to be filled and sealed.The sealed end forms a narrow flattened area across the end of the tube.The ultimate user dispenses the product by squeezing and folding thetube forcing the material out the dispenser end (2) of the tube. Releaseof external pressure at any point allows the tube to return to theoriginal shape as plastic has this inherent characteristic.

FIG. 2 shows a −U-shaped bent wire insert with the legs of the insertspread outward. The insert is formed from a malleable metal materialsuch as copper, aluminum, steel or like material. Some viscous productsreact with metal in which case the metal can be coated with a protectivematerial. An insert made of round wire will be satisfactory for mostsize tubes. However the insert can be rolled and flattened or made fromflat metal strips. Wire sizes as small as AWG 20 can be used in smalltubes with wire sizes increased as necessary. The wire size and materialis determined by the characteristics of a specific tube. The flexibilityof plastic tubes varies according to the type of material used and thethickness and flexibility of the walls. The insert is installed in theplastic tube during manufacturing process or during the filling process.The metal insert does not require close fitting to the tube lengthleaving adequate space for sealing of the tube end. The width of theinsert conforms to the tube diameter with the legs of the insertsufficiently stiff enough to hold the insert in place for shipping andfilling. The function of the metal insert is to allow the tube to befolded and rolled and then hold the tube and insert in position oncefolded or rolled.

Many plastic tube containers such as used for tooth paste and likematerials have openings of ⅛ inch or larger in the dispensing end of thetube. The −V-shaped insert design shown in figure (3) can be insertedpoint first through this opening after the tube is filled. An opening of⅛ inch (0.125 in) will accommodate an insert made of wire size AWG 16(0.051 in) or smaller. Care is taken to avoid tube punctures such asrounding the point of the −V- and also limiting the depth of the insert.Once inside the tube, the legs of the insert will spread outward. Afterthe first fold is made; the metal insert is secured in position. The−V-shaped insert can also be use in the same manner as the −U-shapedescribed above. Wire diameters measuring less than 0.050 inch willhandle most “bent wire designs” such as −U- and −V-. Narrow metal stripsof similar thickness with a width of 0.25 inch or less can also be usedin place of wire.

FIG. 4 represents a flat sheet metal insert with slotted openings in thebody of the insert. While slotted openings are shown, most any shapewould be satisfactory. Openings are necessary to permit the packagedviscous contents to move freely through the tube. This insert is madefrom sheet aluminum, copper or alloy steel similar that used in the foodcanning industry. If desired, this insert could be coated with aprotective material. As with the wire insert, material size,stiffness/malleability is determined by the flexibility and stiffness ofthe tube. Sheet metal inserts measuring 0.050 inch or less in thicknesswould be adequate for most tubes. This insert is installed in the tubeprior to sealing the tube in the same manner as previously described forthe −U-shaped wire inserts. While the drawing in FIG. 3 shows arectangular shape for the strip insert, the outer edges can be angledoutward as described for the wire insert.

In most cases an uncoated metal material would be satisfactory for anyof the described inserts. Any petroleum based product and many otherswill not react with metals. A plastic or other type coating that wouldnot react with the packaged product could be used as necessary. Of theseveral insert materials described, a steel or steel alloy material ofthe type used for canned food products would be an economical choice foreither the wire or metal strip insert.

All of the described inserts can be installed from the open end of thetube before it is filled and sealed. The −V-shaped insert can also beinstalled through the dispensing end of the tube after the tube isfilled. Any of the described inserts will permit the tube to be squeezedand rolled/folded from the bottom. This will assist in expelling ordispensing the contents as well as hold the shape of the rolled/foldedempty tube or partially emptied tube. All the desirable characteristicsof the metal tube are incorporated into the plastic tube at a reasonablecost. No modifications are required in present tube designs. There isthe one added sequence of installing the insert.

While various bent wire designs can be used, the preferred embodiment ofthis invention is the bent wire design of either the −U-shape or the−V-shape depending on the user's choice. The −V-shaped is particularlysuited to installation through the dispensing end of the tube, however,it can also be installed before the tube is sealed. It's obvious thatother bent wire or narrow strip metal designs such as (T), (L) or othershapes could be used. The objective is to have the insert extend thelength of the tube with sufficient width to hold the insert in positionduring the filling process. The chemical make up of the packagedcontents would determine the need for a protective coating on theinsert.

Several embodiments of this invention have been disclosed. The user hasoptions of coated or uncoated metal materials shaped from wire, flatsheet or flat strip metal stock. In addition to material options,various geometric designs for the insert are described. Insert size anddesign can be varied to suit the tube size and construction materialused for the plastic tube. Other options would be apparent to thoseskilled in the art without departing from the scope of this inventionwhich is limited only as defined by the following listed claims.

1- A metal insert installed in a squeezable, collapsible wall, plastictube container/dispenser comprising a length of malleable, hand bendablemetal material, corresponding to the inner dimensions of the container,installed longitudinally in the contents cavity of such typecontainer/dispenser which holds the tube in position as it isfolded/rolled. 2- The metal insert described in claim 1 comprises alength of standard, round, wire configured in a geometric shape to fitthe width and length of the tube cavity. 3- The metal insert describedin claim 1 comprises a narrow strip of flat sheet metal configured in ageometric shape to fit the width and length of the tube cavity. 4- Themetal insert described in claim 1 comprises a piece of flat sheet metalsized to fit the width and length of the tube cavity and furtherconfigured with openings in the body of the insert. 5- A metal insertinstalled in a squeezable, collapsible wall, plastic tubecontainer/dispenser comprising a length of malleable, hand bendablemetal coated with a protective non-corrosive material sized tocorrespond to the inner dimensions of the container and installedlongitudinally in the contents cavity of such type container/dispenserwhich holds the tube in position as it is folded/rolled. 6- The metalinsert described in claim 5 comprises a length of standard, round, wireconfigured in a geometric shape to fit the width and length of the tubecavity. 7- The metal insert described in claim 5 comprises a narrowstrip of flat sheet metal configured in a geometric shape to fit thewidth and length of the tube cavity. 8- The metal insert described inclaim 5 comprises a piece of flat sheet metal sized to fit the width andlength of the tube cavity and further configured with openings in bodyof the insert.